PM in clear: Wilson

Jessica Wright

JULIA Gillard's former boyfriend and one-time Australian Workers Union boss Bruce Wilson has broken his silence on the union slush fund saga, declaring the Prime Minister has ''absolutely nothing to answer for'' and that she ''did no wrong''.

''Let me make this absolutely clear, apart from the initial legal advice Julia Gillard provided on the AWU Workplace Reform Association fund, she had nothing to do with any of it,'' Mr Wilson (pictured) told Fairfax Media.

''Julia Gillard had absolutely no knowledge of anything that went after and people can search and continue this hunt all they like, but they will find nothing. Nothing.''

Speaking from his NSW central coast home last night, Mr Wilson said he had spoken out, initially to News Ltd, to try to put an end to the constant media presence outside his home and persistent phone calls to his work.

Ms Gillard has been under increasing pressure to answer fresh claims that she was involved with the mortgage on a property partly paid for with stolen union funds.

Another identity involved in the scandal, so-called bagman Ralph Blewitt, has arrived back in Australia to give a statement to Victorian police about his knowledge of the affair in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop, who has led the Coalition's attack on Ms Gillard and the affair, said last night Mr Wilson's comments clearing Ms Gillard were ''part of his continuing cover-up'' and she called on him to give a ''frank and full statement'' of the 17-year-old episode.